What is
The IVA?
Most military veteran groups are
rather nationalistic, such as the British Legion, the American Legion, etc.
However, most ex-servicemen & women have many experiences in common, as the
lot of a soldier doesn't vary too much from country to country. Being shot at or
trying to make your money stretch until the next pay parade is much the same
whatever uniform you wear. The aim of the IVA is to help military & other
veterans from different nations to get together & maybe re-establish the
camaraderie that we knew during our days in uniform. No politics, no racism, no
'my unit was better than your unit,' just some folk with a common experience
keeping in touch & maybe getting together now & again. Interested?

So Who Can Join?
The IVA has three types of
membership:

MILITARY MEMBERSHIP. This is for those who served in a military
unit, including army, navy, air force, marines, etc.

POLICE MEMBERSHIP. This, as the name suggests, is for those who
served in bona-fide police units.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP. This is for those who for some reason (i.e.,
served in a reserve/militia unit, etc.), do not quite qualify for either of
the above, but who nonetheless are entitled to membership. This is decided
on a case by case basis by the IVA.

If you are not sure which section you
should join, then just send me your details using the email link on this page
& we'll see. Anyway, whichever category you fit into, you are still very
welcome. It's free, it's friendly & it's fun, so what have you got to lose?
As one IVA member put it, 'The military is a brotherhood of its own' & as
IVA members live in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa & Australia, there
may be another member of the 'brotherhood' near you wherever you are!

Why Should I Join?

If you're looking for somewhere to brag
about your heroic exploits, then maybe this is NOT for you. However, if
you are a veteran who wants to network with others of a similar background, then
maybe a better question would be 'Why should you NOT join!' It doesn't
matter where you live as there are IVA folk all over the world. What's more, as
the membership increases, imagine travelling to a new city & knowing there's
a like-minded IVA member living there, ready to share a few beers & stories.
As the IVA is still quite a new idea, I haven't yet made any concrete plans but
what I would like to see is something like:

Free monthly newsletter, 'The Update'

Personalised IVA email address

Members-only Email Group

Regional 'Branches'

Finding long-lost comrades

Get-togethers & social events,
where possible

Networking with other veterans around
the world

Anything else the members care to
suggest!

What you will NOT get is:

Your email address sold to Spammers

Regular offers of IVA merchandise
(there isn't any)

'Exciting offers' from 'selected'
retailers!

What's Next?

If all this sounds like it might be
interesting & you feel like joining in, nothing could be easier. You begin
by just filling in your details using the link below & then we'll get right
back to you with details of how to join the IVA. Sounds easy? It is!

Note:
The emblems displayed on this
page represent the units in which members of the IVA have served. In time, many
member's units will have a page of their own, giving details of its history
& distinctions together with details of the members who served therein. If
you would like to see your unit's emblem displayed herein, just join up &
tell me all about your old unit.
To find out how to join the IVACLICK HERE
or
you can EMAIL US!

If you'd like to link with the IVA, please visit our link-to -us
page
& take a look at the choice of banners, etc.